Black Friday Protests 2025: Record Sales, Boycotts

Black Friday 2025 showed up this year like a caffeinated linebacker — fast, loud, and absolutely determined to run through anyone holding a protest sign.

Despite weeks of campaigns pushing boycotts and “We Ain’t Buying It” activism, Americans responded with a very patriotic, very bipartisan message:

“Good luck with that… I’ll be in aisle seven.”

Retail analysts estimated this would be the busiest Black Friday in history, and they were correct. Early data shows:

$10.3 billion in online sales (Adobe Analytics estimate)
$37–39 billion in total U.S. retail spending across all channels
Foot traffic up 9–12% compared to 2024
Amazon shipping roughly 1,000+ orders per second during peak hours

In other words: yes, the protests happened — but the air fryers still won.

What the Protests Were Hoping For (And Absolutely Did Not Get)

The “We Ain’t Buying It” Movement

Led by groups like Black Voters Matter, the campaign encouraged Americans to skip Target, Home Depot, Amazon, and other retail giants.
Goal: Redirect spending toward small businesses and companies aligned with certain political or cultural values.
Result: Target sold out of multiple doorbusters before 8 a.m.
(That’s… not ideal for a boycott.)

External reference:

The Guardian reporting on past anti-consumerism movements.

Immigrant Rights Protests Outside Retailers

Another set of protests targeted retailers accused of cooperating with ICE (notably Home Depot). Chants were loud, signs were painted, and passion was genuinely high.

But unfortunately for the movement, the shoppers behind them were even louder — mostly because someone announced that the Milwaukee tool set was 40% off.

Anti-Consumerism Groups

These groups make an appearance every year — the “Buy Nothing Day” supporters, the eco-activists promoting repairs instead of replacements, and the general anti-consumption crowd.

Their message was strong. Their timing, however…
Well, telling Americans not to shop on Black Friday is like telling kids not to open presents on Christmas.

Good luck.

The Bipartisan Reality: When Prices Drop, Politics Pause

Say what you want about America being polarized — because it is. But Black Friday is the one day when:

Conservatives and liberals stand next to each other grabbing the same discounted TV
Every financial philosophy is replaced by a temporary but powerful belief in “40% Off”
The Prius and the F-150 both circle the same parking spot with equal aggression

It’s the closest thing we have to bipartisan unity.

Everyone — left, right, center — becomes fiscally conservative when a Dyson drops under $299.

So… Did the Boycotts Work?

Let’s be diplomatic:

No.
Absolutely not.

Not only did they not work… Black Friday actually grew faster this year.

If the goal was to reduce corporate retail spending, this was the equivalent of holding an umbrella on a runway during a hurricane and hoping the plane stops.

People vote with their wallets.
And this year, the vote was overwhelmingly:

“I support your cause, but also… this Bluetooth speaker is half off.”

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Final Word: Black Friday Is Still King

The protests had passion.
The shoppers had carts.

And Black Friday 2025?
Still undefeated.
Still chaotic.
Still the only day where the phrase “doorbuster” is used unironically.

If you want to change American spending habits, you’ll need a strategy stronger than a hashtag and a megaphone… especially when Nintendo Switch bundles are 30% off.